Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-06-16
A VENTURE IN CHICKENS.
Extracts from the Diary OF Reformed
Poultry Enthusiast.

a VENTURE IN CHICKENS.
Extracts from the Diary OF Reformed
Poultry Enthusiast.
Ever since was small boy and the
proud owner of bantam hen, which
suffered an untimely end at my hands
by being squeezed to death, | have
been possessed of deep desire to own
a number of chickens. We had moved,
the year before, into small suburban
cottage, and during that summer, when
had seen the neighbors' fowls calmly
scratching up our backyard. the old
thought grew within me. and by the
next season had prevailed over the
counsels of my wife, and purchased as
many chickens as lay within my mod
est means. l was happy man when
| saw the flock gather about the door
step for the first time, as they anxious
ly awaited their evening allowance,
and for fear that some unprincipled
being might avail himself of the oppor-
tunity to replenish his roost by depict
ing mine, l secured Watchdog. l
also subscribed to a number of agri-
cultural papers that devoted column
or so to the interest of fowls, and pur-
chased books on the care of chickens,
which l read devotedly. How my
heart swelled with pride when hen
proclaimed with unnecessary reitera-
ton the advent of an egg! and after l
had searched for half an hour for it,
how triumphantly bore the warm OBJ
ject to my wife, remarking: "Now.
my dear, we can have fresh eggs every
morning for breakfast, and all you
need in addition for cakes and pud-
dings."
But, alas, the heart of man is often
conferred upon things of vanity, and it
is not well to put your trust even in
chickens. Perhaps few extracts from
my diary may best serve to show the
sequel:
"May lit being the first pleasant
day, the doors and windows were left
open, and my wife, going downstairs
about noon, found two ambitious
roosters upon the piano, while a third
was industriously picking at the beads
on the sofa cushion. In order to pre-
vent repetition of the scene No. 8 was
converted into stew"
"May 3.-My dog has suddenly devel-
oped fancy for playing with the
fowls, and spends most of his time in
chasing them around the yard; at any
rate, it keeps them out of mischief"
"May 7.-One hen is missing. l sus-
pect the dog"
MAY 81 found nest of eggs to-
day in the back of the garden, and in
carrying them to the house in my hat,
l stumbled-eggs and hat ruined"
MAY 10.-Another hen missing"
MAY 1l.-When coming from the
train to-day / noticed couple o.
hens looking very much like mine in q
neighbours yard, but unfortunately the
fowls have no distinctive mark of indi'
viduality."
MAY Is. Wrong as regards thu
hens. Both have been found sitting il
corner of the garden; were not dis
turbed. Prospects of two fine broods.
MAY 1S.-The newly-planted flower
bed has afforded my flock much
amusement, to the ruination of thu
nlonts 1oss five dollars
"May 19.-Another nest found. Thi
time l carried the eggs to the hous
one by one"
"May 2O.-The sitting hens have de
serted their nests. Can the dog hav
frightened them Off"
"May 22.-The ROSTERS seem to b.
troubled with insomnia, as they awak
us at all hours of the night with thei
Growing. No remedy mentioned il
books or papers"
"May 24-All the fowls came int
the front hall to-day, and enjoyed them
selves by picking at the bright carpe
tacks, which are usually CONSIDERS
very indigestible; hope they swallows
none"
MAY 26.-The dog must go; he wa
found to-day eating eggs"
MAY 2S.-My wife declares that tn
chickens must follow the dog; but re
, prieve was granted, as l found tw
nests of eggs"
, MAY ga number of fowls miss
ing As the dog has been disposed Of
| it must be some other agency"
MAY 30.--Their fate is sealed. TIL
) old rooster was rather tough eating
but my wife says that the next butcf
er's bill will be considerably less tina
usual"
"Juue 15.-The last pullet eaten.
, have decided that my forte is not chicl
/ ems"
r JUNE 16.-The fowls that wer
missing couple of weeks ago returne
to-day, but gave no account of then
selves. They seemed rather lonely.
June 1.-Two weeks diet o
chickens is enough; so Mitchell, tn
colored man who does chores about til
place, was presented with the prod
gals. Thank Heaven! no more"
Total loss, including flower bed, hi
? and dog, thirty-eight dollars.-Flau
S s. Mines, in Harper's Weekly.
cNrc ANAL WEN